Message from the Mayor: Affordable housing has been addressed for years (media is late to the party), and she wants to hear your ideas

Affordable housing has finally grabbed media attention here in Sooke, although conversations have occurred throughout our community for nearly a decade.

Such conversations have led to projects like the Harbourside Co-Housing Project (and soon to break ground West Wind Housing) for seniors with its own ‘community of care’ that enables seniors to downsize and remain in Sooke.

The Hope Centre, which has a range of below and market housing for singles. Knox Vision project which is finally breaking ground is focused on families.

I’ve recently met with Habitat for Humanity, whom will share their vision for a town centre project early in the New Year.

Employers in the service sector have made housing arrangements for their staff in the busy summer months.

And an emergency ‘out of rain‘ shelter has been hosted by the Baptist Church.

With rapid growth and rising prices, affordable housing for the workforce, students, service sector employees and many more, its obvious that we are lacking in meaningful supply. Or are we?

Some say that Sooke needs more tiny homes, small lots, carriage homes etc. Others suggest that partnerships with not-for-profit to construct purpose-built rental apartments should be the focus. And then there is employers providing proper housing for their employees (construction, service sector etc.), as we see in resort destinations like Banff.

And then others feel that many local employers are not providing a living wage to their employees, and that wages and benefits must keep pace with the cost of living.

The government should get out of the housing business and let the private sector solve the problem.

Take all of the money spent on public housing and return it to real estate entrepreneurs. Make the first $50,000 in rental income tax free. Allow rental properties to be depreciated at 20% annually, instead of the current 4%.

If the government dared to take these steps, you would see such a boom in new rental property construction, the homeless problem would be solved in 5 years.

But it will never happen. The present system will endure because, as Glenn Reynolds opined, there are more opportunities for graft.